Small Business – 15 Years of Lessons Learned

May 1, 2019Jennifer Stevens

I’m the accidental entrepreneur. Owning a business was never part of my career plan. After managing political campaigns for more than a decade I found myself as a brand-new mom and struggling with wanting (and needing) to work. Yet, I didn’t just want any job – I wanted to know the time spent away from my family was going to be rewarding. I decided I would take a leap of faith and work for myself until I found the right job… and now, we are celebrating JHL’s 15th anniversary this May!

One thing I’ve learned is that owning a small business is like being on a treadmill, but you can’t turn it off. You can slow it down, speed it up, add or decrease incline but you can’t push stop. If you push stop, then everything stops. Through it all, I’ve learned to know my value and stay strong.

What personal sacrifices have I had to make along the way? Have there been times I felt like giving up? What advice do I have to give to others starting their own business? Listen to this month’s Make the Connection episode to hear the ins and outs of small business as I reflect on the past 15 years of high risk and high reward.

Each month we’ll be sharing our tips to help you connect and succeed in public affairs, strategic communications, events and beyond. I hope you use it as a resource for either yourself, your organization, or send to a friend or colleague.